TOULOUSE
On the left bank of the Garonne, in the flood-prone district of St Cyprien, stands St Nicolas Church. In the Middle Ages, it was situated along the main road taken by travellers and pilgrims on the Way of St James. It was built between the 14th and 16th centuries but is also known for the 19th-century polychrome work by the painter Bernard Bénezet. Furthermore, during the 2014 restoration, a 16th-century fresco was rediscovered! The darkness of this late-evening visit might therefore give you a more mysterious perspective…
Indeed, from a less familiar, darker angle, your eyes are quickly thrown off balance. The guide, speaking in a confidential tone, takes you on a different historical journey, where every detail emerges by the light of a torch, revealing touches of gold and ochre.
So, you’ll sneak a peek at the story of the hanged man who was later taken down; you’ll shudder as you discover the water level during the 1875 flood; you’ll marvel at the delicate carvings on the Baroque altarpiece; in short, you become an active participant in this ‘torch-lit’ exploration.
After this intimate journey, you’ll feel closer than ever to this church, sometimes referred to as the ‘beautiful stranger’.
